On 8 September 2023, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Andris Pelšs, launched the 13th session of the Intensive Programme in European Law and Economics, jointly financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United States of America. The six-week programme run by Riga Graduate School of Law (RGSL) brings together 21 young professionals from countries and territories in the European Union’s Neighbourhood Policy region, the Western Balkans, and Central Asia.
In his address, the State Secretary emphasised that the European Union was not only about specific political, economic and legal processes but also the EU’s fundamental values, such as human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law, and human rights.
The Intensive Programme will be held in person in Riga. The course also includes a week-long study trip to Brussels and Luxembourg, where the trainees will meet with officials from the European Union institutions. Professionals representing public administration, civil society and the academic sector in the partner countries are taking part in the programme.
Background information
The Riga Graduate School of Law has been successfully implementing programmes in European Law and Economics since 2014, and the Intensive Programme in European Law and Economics – since 2016.
The programmes are supported from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs budget allocated to the implementation of development assistance policy, with financial contributions from the United States. Support for the programmes run at RGSL has also been provided by Norway, Sweden, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.
In total, 619 participants from 20 partner countries have graduated from the RGSL programmes since 2014. They are applying their newly acquired knowledge and experience towards the promotion of growth in their home countries.
